Caput Mundi: Conservative restoration and enhancement of the Reginald Pole Chapel

Caput Mundi Next Generation EU for touristic great events (Mission 1, Component 3, Investment 4.3)

Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan increases the number of accessible tourist sites in Rome, creating valid and qualified tourist and cultural alternatives with respect to the crowded central areas, as well as increasing the use of digital technologies, enhance green areas and the sustainability of tourism. The investment envisages six lines of interventions:
1. “Roman Cultural Heritage for EU-Next Generation”, covering the regeneration and restoration of cultural and urban heritage and complexes of high historical-architectural value of the city of Rome;
2. “Jubilee paths” (from pagan to Christian Rome), targeted to the enhancement, safety, anti-seismic consolidation, restoration of places and buildings of historical interest and archaeological pathways;
3. #LaCittàCondivisa, covering the redevelopment of sites in peripheral areas;
4. #Mitingodiverde, covering interventions on parks, historical gardens, villas and fountains;
5. #Roma 4.0, covering the digitalization of cultural services and the development of apps for tourists;
6. #Amanotesa, aimed at increasing the supply of cultural offer to peripheries for social integration.

The investment is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility by EUR 500 million and includes this project.
The project involves the conservative restoration of a 16th-century circular chapel attributed to Cardinal Reginald Pole, inspired by Roman temple tombs. Interventions include reopening sealed entrances, restoring masonry and painted surfaces, waterproofing the roof, and enhancing the lighting system to preserve and highlight the building’s historic and architectural value. This project is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility with EUR 238000. The structure features a circular plan and is a significant 16th-century artefact, traditionally attributed to the English Cardinal Reginald Pole. The chapel evokes the style of Roman temple tombs, with walls marked by eight brick pilaster strips, peperino capitals, and stone plinths supporting an architrave topped by a polychrome terracotta dome. Two travertine portals and four upper clipei were sealed in the late 1990s. The project for the conservative restoration and enhancement of the chapel includes a range of interventions aimed at preserving and showcasing this historic building. The roof will be overhauled and waterproofed if necessary to protect it from weather damage. The entrances will be reopened and fitted with new wooden doors to restore their original appearance. Missing sections of the walls will be rebuilt and consolidated to ensure structural stability. Brick and stone masonry will be cleaned and reinforced, while the painted interior surfaces will be carefully preserved and restored. The floor area will be cleaned, and the artistic lighting system will be reviewed and upgraded as needed to highlight the chapel’s architectural features.